75
/ 100
Objective (60%)
89/100
19 professional tests
User signal (40%)
78/100
3 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
76/100
6 professional tests
User signal (40%)
85/100
61 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better treadwear, handling and dry. Pick the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 if snow and noise matter most to you.
Read full
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.
Category breakdown
7 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Cinturato Winter 2 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 88 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 89 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 97% | 100% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 98% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Cinturato Winter 2 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Cinturato Winter 2 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 82 | 77 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 90 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 98 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 90% | 86% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 89% | 95% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Cinturato Winter 2 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Cinturato Winter 2 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 79 | 71 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 94% | 91% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 100% | 95% |
| Snow Traction (% of best) | 100% | 81% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Cinturato Winter 2 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 76 | 78 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 79 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Cinturato Winter 2 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Cinturato Winter 2 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 65 | 38 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 98 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 21
Why this score
| Source | Cinturato Winter 2 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 77 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 60 | 78 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Cinturato Winter 2 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 87 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 80 |
| Dry | 82 | 89 |
| Wet | 84 | 83 |
| Snow | 84 | 76 |
| Comfort | 76 | 79 |
| Noise | 65 | 62 |
| Treadwear | 60 | 81 |
| Handling | 77 | 87 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
75
/ 100
Tire A
80
/ 100
Tire B
Test data
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 97% #11/20 · 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | -3.4 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #7/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 99% #7/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | -0.6 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 87% #14/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | -12.8 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #7/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 96% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +1.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 93% #10/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 100% #9/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | -7.2 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 86% #16/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #19/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | -14.1 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 91% #7/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 83% #13/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +8.1 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 8% #13/20 · 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 14% #7/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | -6.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 94% #17/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 91% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +3.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 100% #8/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 95% #9/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | +5.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 100% #8/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 81% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +18.8 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 97% #6/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 94% #15/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +2.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 90% #9/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 90% #2/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 77% #7/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 80% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | -3.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Snow Handling | Subj | 99% #2/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test | 80% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | +18.7 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 64% #4/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 70% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | -5.6 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #10/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #14/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 90% #6/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 86% #16/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +4.1 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 89% #5/9 · 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 95% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | -6.2 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 is generally regarded as a highly capable winter tire that excels in wet and snowy conditions while providing a secure, planted feel. While users appreciate its safety and traction, there are notable concerns regarding its longevity and tread wear, as well as a shift toward a softer, touring-oriented handling profile compared to its predecessors.
Pros
- Excellent traction and confidence in wet and snowy conditions
- Strong braking performance on dry surfaces
- High level of subjective road feedback and handling security
- Comfortable touring-oriented ride quality
Cons
- Rapid tread wear and concerns regarding overall tire longevity
- Less precise handling and feedback compared to sportier winter tires
- Increased road noise and fuel consumption noted by some users
- Softer sidewall feel which may not suit performance-oriented driving
Observations
- Users transitioning from the sportier Sottozero 3 noted a significant shift toward a touring-focused, less direct handling experience.
- The tire's performance is highly regarded for drivers seeking a balanced, safe option for cold, rainy, and occasional mountain winter conditions.
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in wet, slushy, and cold dry conditions. Users consistently praise its sporty handling and confidence-inspiring grip, though it is frequently noted that the tire's performance and longevity are compromised if used in warm temperatures or during summer months.
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather performance and resistance to hydroplaning.
- Strong dry-road handling and steering precision for a winter tire.
- Excellent traction and stability in snow and slush.
- Comfortable and relatively quiet ride quality.
- Aesthetically pleasing design with effective rim protection.
Cons
- Rapid tread wear, particularly if driven in temperatures above 15°C or year-round.
- Susceptibility to sidewall damage and bubbling when encountering road hazards.
- Increased noise levels as the tire ages and tread depth decreases.
- High price point compared to some competitors.
Observations
- Drivers of high-torque, rear-wheel-drive performance vehicles report high satisfaction with the tire's ability to maintain traction and control.
- Users with staggered fitments on luxury sedans (e.g., BMW 5-series, M240i) note that the tire maintains its sporty character well in cold climates.
- Some owners of heavier vehicles or those with high-horsepower setups noted that the tire's longevity is significantly reduced under aggressive driving styles.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 | B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | — | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 8 | 32 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 18″ | 17″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | 11/32″ | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | 50 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
75
/ 100
Pirelli
80
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better treadwear, handling and dry. Pick the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 if snow and noise matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 81 vs 60 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 87 vs 77 on handling.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 scores 84 vs 76 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 89 vs 82 on dry.
Tire A · Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
Tire B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
More comparisons
Also compared with
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 also compared with
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.